Centrifugal molding apparatus for the manufacture of roofing tiles



27,1949 G. H. RAFFERTY CENTRIFUGAL MOLDING APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ROOFING TILES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1947 1949 a. H. RAFFERTY CENTRIFUGAL MOLDING APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ROOFING TILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1947 De. 27, 1949 s. H. RAFFERTY 2,492,535

CENTRIFUG'AL MOLD APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE ROOFING TILES Filed June 14, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. Z'Z, 1949 UNITED CENTRIFUGAL MQLDING APPARATUS FOR THE. MANUEAG'LURE F ROOFING TILES George 16E 3 Ra fe y Eh re t Vic oria A alia Application June14, 1947, Serial No. 754,640 In Australia June 26, 19416 2: C aims. (ems- 431,

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal apparatus for. the manufacture, of roofing tiles or the like, and it has more particular reference to mould formersand can ers therefor of improved construction and design.

It has been proposed to provide apparatus of the centrifugal type by the use of which tiles,

.inparticular, may be manufactured quickly and economically. Such apparatus compriseda cylindrical frame rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The said frame consisted oftwo circular end members, each of which comprised .a circular rim, a nn r on entris ins; and

radial arms in spaced relationship intereonnect- .ine the inner ring with the Outer rim. longithem fi mly in place. The appara u was mounted on friction rollers on parallel shafts and was drive a eq d peed y suita e and meantime a cementitious mixv was, introduced i t a pa nd b he inne r ngs of the end members and fed centrifugally. into the mould carriers. A number of pairs of mould plates were arranged radially within each mould carrier and when centrifugal mouldingwas completed, the mould carriers were adapted to. be removed and partially dismantled to enable moulded tiles to be removedtherefrom.

The apparatus of the character described was .01 found to be satisfactory in use, for although h rinc e w sound, th m ul s and m uld carriers were not of a satisfactory nature to produce roofing tiles. I he mould carriers were un.-

13 dilfficult to position in, or remove from the machine. Furthermore, whilst the machine was operation there was a tendency for the mould plates to move within the carrier, resulting in unevenness in the tiles produced. A still greater disadvanta e resided in the fact that no provision was made for the production in the tiles of holes tor the purpose of tie-wires, whereby roofing tiles.

rdin i ch to t oof f me o a stru tu e.

' My present invention has been devised with em disad an agesby P IQ 1 princ pa ohieet 9 QY QBil5sl21AQaiFLPP$' dine-ah he se -thri ler mou d termed-er rheuldr eteswhieh ar f lmpr ed ehere eh the reset ro h eules f seed quali ay be hieeufeewred ui kly. simply ehde I r e tha h ehtid m oheh ers eedi y uhdersmod referehee s sew wh elie the esem eh ih rawi gs. is

de a! hey-eta eeehie Ales he s qemeethier wil mquld @9- for centrifugallym mat ial and P39 Fig, lis a frqntgelev ass mb i s messed from the illusrr id arrie retrie d ret hhi n his wre s-se iieeelr Vi w 9 ihe meul earrier shown in Fig z, I

F e- 4 s a Pe sPeht yeiew ef eeisu eetled muuld carr er. r

5 is er heeh e ie 41 .4, farme a d a e ie me h-award ih eetlee dis ee seetienel 9 these h block shownin Fig. 5;, and I Pie 7 hows in. perspeeuve ameuld Flatw c'erdi e to y hvhti hn h e ra ng -eehtr hselly mac n own isQ hIiQWHWBe led eem is s' eed r'eteteble -sme l udies w il r end: m mb rs 3. he he ou r l0 and-eh. inner ri e L The oute rim d, ner ring r r id lhiereehhestsd b r a s oke l2? ,hhs e il eh l'i esur' e th n s h ar-t9 the-ester end r the s. s

seek mem r z s hhes the wdendn b'e 9 in ie 'd ar angem nt Meu ises is a da ed to hite e mfih'ifilfilhfifi be w en t e ute -r m, h loner 'riheehdsue cessive spokes l2 Clampingbelts LE-are adapt,- d n; t d; t reuse. a amping e iehhh th said mo d earrie hq ih sueh. rriers firmly in mere h ret tehle rem i m ted n e l te y m unted n a s itable base l a ta ot o m ar ed $9 e said rollers b any i able ehseeus s-the frame e to r o v a suf i nt high hee Each of the mouldcarri'ersjlll PQflShSts broadly of two removable. e fil Plates, l8, twosidevp 5% ds b la e 20, eh f he s d; side elites h ne d s hest die-e lehe-itud heledee f the said base plate, r h e Pl e a the siderh es-ere schstr d preferably of s et. meta er suinhle s se? h 's de' p ates heir-1e sha ed t eir lower edges and the base plate being shaped at and lower mould plates 33. mould plates 32 is constructed suitably of sheet metal pressed to such shape that it is adapted to mould the upper faces of a row of four tiles its longitudinal edges to form, in association with suitable pins, hinges 2|. Check-plates 22 are welded or otherwise secured along their upper edges to the inner surfaces of the side plates l9. The said check-plates extend obliquely inwards and downwards and when the mould carrier is assembled, they bear against the base plate 20. The inner edge portions of the check plates 22 are upturned for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. The base plate is curved laterally to arcuate form.

The end plates [8 are formed of sheet metal of appropriate gauge and are of substantially segmental shape. The side and bottom edge portions of the said plates are inturned to form strengthening flanges 23. The end plates are adapted to close the ends of the mould carriers, the flanges 23 lapping over and imparting rigidity to the end portions of the side plates 13 and the base plate 23. Bolts 24' welded or otherwise secured within the end portions of the side plates 'l9 are adapted to pass through appropriately positioned apertures 25 formed in the end plates.

Curved bracing bars 26 which are apertured at their ends are adapted to be engaged by the bolts 24, and nuts 2'! engaging with the said bolts act to hold the bracing bars to the end plates and the end plates to the side plates of the mould carrier. The said bracing bars 26 are positioned in diagonal arrangement and have outwardly curved portions 28 at or about their crossing midportions whereby haulage tackle may be secured to the mould carrier to facilitate its removal from the centrifugal moulding machine.

On the underside of the base plate 28 are arranged three longitudinal rows of rollers 29 rotatably mounted in brackets 30 welded or otherwise secured to the said base plate. The outer rollers are adapted to bear on the longitudinal angle irons l3 of the frame 8 of the machine, and

the rollers of the medial row are adapted to bear on an intermediate rail 3|, one of which is positioned centrally between each pair of angle irons [3, being connected at its ends as by welding to the rims [8 of the frame 8 of the machine.

A number of tile moulding elements are remov- I ably fitted within the assembled mould carrier. These elements include upper mould plates 32 Each of the upper to form recessed portions and convexities to mould projections and hollows in the moulded underside of the tile as well as division pieces 36 to divide the moulded tiles. The said shaped convexities when viewed from the rear of the lower mould plate (see Fig. 7) are concavities in the pressed metal, and in each tile portion of the mould plate consists of a relatively large upper concavity 3! and a circular lower concavity 38 immediately therebelow. The said concavities are separated by a raised bridge portion 39 which, in the moulded tile, is required to have a wire hole formed therethrough. In order to effect the forming of the said holes in the tiles being moulded, there is provided for each tile section of the lower mould plate a pin 48 which is adapted to pass slidably through two apertures formed in the mould plate, one of the apertures leading from the bottom of the upper concavity 31 and the other aperture leading into the top of the lower concavity 38. Each of the said pins is bent over at a right angle at its upper end portion, and the bent over end is rigidly secured in an appropriately apertured cross bar 4|. The said cross bar is retained slidably in two brackets 42. Each of the said brackets consists of a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal shaped to form a relatively shallow channel, of which the longitudinal edges are out-turned and welded or otherwise secured to the rear face of the lower mould plate 33. A lateral slot :33 is formed in each of the said brackets, and studs 44 extending from the cross bar 4| engage slidably in the said slots to guide and limit the lateral slidable movement of the said cross bar. In order to effect this movement, a lever 45 is fulcrummed on each of the said brackets. At its lower end, each of the said levers is bifurcated to engage operatively the studs 4'4 of the cross bar ll. Clips 43 are welded or otherwise secured to the rear face of the mould plate in such position that they are adapted to hold releasably the upper ends of the said levers in raised position.

Within each mould carrier there are fitted five pairs of mould plates;'and of these, four pairs are interconnected to constitute mould former units.

'Each of the said units (see particularly Fig. 5)

comprises an upper mould plate 32 and a lower mould plate 33 arranged back to back. The upper 'tially triangular in cross section. The said channel extends downwardly below the lower edges of the mould plates, and the lower part of the side of the channel connected to the upper mould plate is bent inwardly to form a longitudinal recess 49 immediately below the said lower edge of the upper mould plate.

Both the remaining upper mould plate 32 and lower mould plate 33 (see Fig. '7) have a spacing strip 47 welded or otherwise secured along the upper edge of their rear faces and secured along their lower edges each has a metal angle-piece 50, shaped where necessary to conform to the shape of the lower edge of the plate, which extends below the mould plate the same distance as the spacing channels of the mould former.

In order to hold the separate mould plates and the mould former units in desired spaced relation within the mould carrier, there are provided for each carrier five spacer blocks 5| (see particularly Figs. 3, 5 and'fi). Each of the said blocks may be suitably made of wood, or of wood sheathed with thin sheet metal, or of any other desired construction. Along one side, the said block is of such depth that it fits within the recess 49 of the spacing channel 48, and the remainder of the upper surface of the block is inclined downwardly to form the bottom portion of a tile mould. At intervals along the spacing block 5| there are formed recesses 52 cut in from the bottom and one edge of the said block. A recessed metal plate 53 is secured as by countersunk screws 53 to the bottom of the spacer block 5| in such manner as to lie flush with the bottom surface of the block and partly close the bottom oa e as in t r ugh h ra se brid eportion 3.5.11. the e mou d. plates. 33. Qneofthe sid plates "3 sd n li he hee plate zl bear jet-its lower p rt on aga nst the ase. plate.- esainst thewurned inn r andl weren o Ttlie said check plat t e is p siti n da on- 'g tudioal earer 5'! which may. su tably. onsis of; alenstho i berof substa tially. rec an ular crossec o A separate upp r mould plate .32 thenp c n th m uld i t e an lee. 50 secu ed. to its bo tom edse e ins as inst ev said ea er 5 A pacer block. i clipped t the ase plate by means of the tongues 55 engaging the recessed metal plates 53, asshown. in g.5, an m l rme unit i then positioned in the mould carrier, then another spacer block, and so on, until the four 'rpould former units-.and flve spacer blocks have been set place. Finally the separate lower mould plate 33 is setin p a anda b a er 5. is positioned along the outer lower edge of its angle piece 50. The other side plate I9 is then raised, the check plate 22 bearing against the last positioned bearer 51, andthe end plates l8 are fitted. In fitting the said end plates. the

flange portions 23 lap over the base plate 2,0 and bolts 24 secured to the side plates passthroug-h theapertures. 25 formed in the said end plate. The bracing bars 26 are f tted'on the bolts 24 in crossed diagonal arrangement and nuts 21 are screwed tightly on the said holts tohold the bracing bars. to the end plates the en p es n p sition. o the mou $3111 6? I Successive upper and side plates I9, and the lower mould plates are held in desired spaced relationship by the division pieces and 36, and in order that the mould plates and formers may be held securely together in correct disposition within the mould carrier, means are provided whereby the upper end portions of the said plates and formers are compressed tightly together. Such means may suitably consist of an arrangement of cams, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. A longitudinal cam shaft 58 is journaled in bearing brackets 59 welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the inner face of each of the side plates l9. Each of the said cam shafts has two cams 60 non-rotatably secured thereon, and near to the ends of the said shaft there is mounted a ratchet wheel Bl, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The said cams 60 are adapted to bear against bearing strips 62, one of which is secured longitudinally to the outer face of each of the separate mould plates 32 and 33. The said bearing strips may suitably consist of metal bar welded in place. The ends 63 of the cam shaft 51 are adapted to pass through apertures 64 formed appropriately in the end plates I8, and are squared so that they may be engaged and rotated by means of a suitable tool 65 (see Fig. 2). Pawls 66, adapted to interact with the said ratchet wheels Bil are mounted on the inner face of each of the end plates 18, and when the said cam-shaft 58 is rotated in order to cause the cams 60 to bear firmly on the bearing strips 62 "of; the ide. lates o pow r; conn ted. to.

to? ho dyth -mouldplates and mould formers firmly; together, the pawls .66: act. to restrain the cam-shaft from counter rotation.- If. desired, release means positioned externally of. thelassembled. mould. carrier may: be provided. so -thatthe said pawls may bev freed from the said ratchets whe sired,

. In or er that oementitious. material Will be prevented irom. enterin the mould carrier t... oush; th openings between. the Sideplates t ereoi and the; o tereparate mould plates 32 and; 33;,means are, provided to effect. closure of these openin s. Such means consist of closure plates 6 h nsedly mounted to. t u per. ed s l9. and downturned along their inner edges. Thesaiddown-turhed inner edge portions. are. adapted to abut. against thespacer stripsfl s cured along: the upper. edgeportions oil. th separa eupper: andv lower. mould plates 32.:and 33,. pr nezolips fi associated with the said pacer strips are-adapted to hold-releasably saidi downturned edges. of the said. closure pia esfil. 1 In: use, six; mould carriers arran ed and assampl d.as;.heroin eifore.described are positioned th oentriiugal: machine. ea h;v fitting: in a se mental space betweenirmer ring U, rim H1 an spokes l2. Fitment-10f, the said mould carriers-isiaoilitat d by. the. rollers 29 bearingv on theiansl irons leandthe intermediate'rails 3|. When the mouldoarriersare so-positioned, they 8ISQQ1IQ place il own; manner by tight.- chips t e clampin olts, l5; A .suitable source the rollers It; is then cau ed o ro a the. frame .8 at; aihish speed, and a ous mix: is fed into the-axial openin of thev machine. either by hand or by the use of a suitable mechanical device, The mix feedsinto the. s ac e weenpai s ofm uldplate and centrifu al force ensures that. the mix. is well and evenly packed in such spa e After the machine has been operated fora predetermined time, it is topped. Theclamping bolts it ar loos ned, and. he mouldcarriers are rem ved' rom the. frameflby means of haulage tackle secured to the bracing bars 26. As the mould carriers are removed, a new set of assembled mould carriers is installed to allow continuity of production.

Each of the removed mould carriers is opened by first raising cover plates 66 and releasing pawls 65 from ratchets 60, to release compression on the mould plates and formers. The nuts 21 are then unscrewed and the bracing bars 26 and the end plates I8 are removed. The levers 45 are disengaged from their clips 46 and depressed so as to cause the pins 40 to rise from the raised bridge portions 39 formed in each lower mould plate 33. One of the side plates l9 of the mould carrier is then lowered to expose the separate lower mould plate 33. The said mould plate 33 is carefully removed, after removing the bearer 51. The exposed spacer block 5| is then disengaged from the clips 55 on the base plate 20, and removed. The first mould former unit, carrying a moulded set of tiles is then taken away for storage, and a second row of moulded tiles is exposed. These tiles are likewise carried away on the mould former after first removing the spacer block 5 I, and so on. As soon as may be, the moulded tiles are removed and stacked in a suitable place, and the mould carrier may be assembled again.

It will be found that by the use of my inyention, a considerable number of tiles may be bar being adapted to be moved in such moulded in a short time, and these tiles will be I prises a base plate; two side plates connected to the said base plate; two end plates adapted to be connected to the side plates; a number of radially disposed pairs of mould plates removably positioned in the mould carrier, each pair consisting of an upper mould plate adapted to mould the upper surfaces of a row of tiles, and a lower mould plate adapted to mould the corresponding lower surfaces of the row of tiles; a clamp adapted to releasably compress the mould plates within the carrier into close interfitment; a crossbar associated with each lower mould plate; a number of pins secured to the said cross-bar; each of the said pins being adapted to pass slidably through two apertures formed on either side of a convex portion of the underside of the said lower mould plate to form a core adapted to mould a tie-wire hole in the underside of the tile, and to be withdrawn from the moulded tiles to permit the said lower mould plate to be removed from the moulded tiles; the said crossmanner as to cause the said pins secured thereto alternatively to be simultaneously passed slidably through and disengaged from the convex portions of the said lower mould plate.

2. Centrifugal apparatus for the manufacture of roofing tiles according to claim 1 wherein a hand-lever mechanism associated with the crossbar is adapted to actuate the said cross bar to engage or disengage the tie-wire hole forming pins simultaneously.

3. Centrifugal apparatus for the manufacture of roofing tiles of the type wherein a number of segmental mould carriers are removably fitted in a substantially cylindrical frame adapted to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axisl characterised in that each mould carrier comprises a base plate; two side plates hingedly connected to the base plate; two removable end plates adapted to be connected to the side plates; a number of radially disposed pairs of mould plates removably positioned in the mould carrier; each pair of mould plates consisting of an upper mould plate adapted to mould the upper surfaces of a row of tiles, and a lower mould plate adapted to mould the corresponding lower surfaces of a row of tiles, successive mould plates with the exception of the outermost mould plates being co-joined in spaced relationship along their upper and lower edges to form units; a clamp adapted to releasably compress the mould plates within the carrier into close interfitment; a cross-bar mounted on the underside of each of the lower mould plates; a number of pins secured to each cross bar, each pin being adapted to pass slidably through apertures formed on either side of a convex portion of the underside of the lower mould plate to form a core adapted to mould a tie-wire hole in the underside of a tile; and at least one hand lever connected to each cross bar and adapted to move the cross bar to simultaneously engage the pins in or withdraw them from the convex portions of the lower mould plate.

GEORGE HENRY RAFFERTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

